The I-71 Shift: 2017 Week 6 in Cleveland Monsters Hockey
The Cleveland Monsters returned home for week six to host a two-game series against the Milwaukee Admirals. Also, the Columbus Blue Jackets returned some familiar faces to the Monsters’ lineup prior to Saturday’s puck drop.
The Cleveland Monsters started the week with a 5-4-2-1 record. The team needs to keep adding wins to their record to continue their rise up the standings. Would the Monsters’ get it done this week?
Game 13: Lucky or Unlucky?
This high-scoring affair began with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL affiliate of the Nashville Predators) finding paydirt first at 8:13 in the first period on a Bobby Butler goal. Fortunately for the Monsters, the period began trending in the opposite direction. Both Calvin Thurkauf (5) and Paul Bittner (2) scored before the end of the first.
Miles Koules assisted Thurkauf on his goal. Bittner’s goal was scored on the power play after he found the puck on his stick near the net. Carter Camper and Dean Kukan provided the assists on the Bittner goal. The first period ended with the Monsters on top 2-1.
Thanks to a Pontus Aberg powerplay goal, the Admirals brought the game within one goal. But, the Monsters went on a goal streak to put the game out of reach.
Less than two minutes after the Aberg goal, Sam Vigneault tried to put it in twice in front of the net but was denied by Admirals goalie Juuse Saros. However, Saros couldn’t corral the puck. Camper (4) found it on the right side of the crease and buried it with authority.
Then at 18:24, Hayden Hodgson picked up the puck near the net and began to skate around it. He saw some daylight behind Saros and easily scored from behind the goalie for his first of the season. Camper assisted on the play for his third point of the night. John Ramage received credit for the secondary assist.
Just under thirty seconds later, Justin Scott (2) scored thanks to an Admirals defensive zone turnover. The shot was a quick, high riser that Saros didn’t seem to be expecting. The period ended with a 5-2 Monsters lead.
The game ended with a Monsters 5-3 victory after the Admirals’ Tyler Moy scored late in the third period.
Game 14: Just Visiting
Prior to the start of Saturday’s game, the Columbus Blue Jackets sent Joonas Korpisalo, Sonny Milano, Zac Dalpe, and Gabriel Carlsson up Interstate 71 to Quicken Loans Arena. The CBJ also recalled Matiss Kivlenieks, but this was due to the NHL requiring two goalies to be on the active roster at all times.
This game wound up being a more subdued hockey game, at least on the scoreboard. No goals were scored until the fourth minute of the second period when Koules (3) scored after helpers from both Vigneault and Doyle Somerby.
A full period elapsed until Bittner (3) made it a 2-0 game with a powerplay goal.
The Admirals ended the shutout chance for Korpisalo after pulling their own goalie inside of the final minute. However, Joe Pendenza (3) scored on that empty net from a Milano feed. The Monsters won by the score of 3-1.
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Next: The I-71 Shift: 2017 Weeks 4 and 5 in Cleveland Monsters Hockey
Week 7 in Cleveland Monster Hockey
Unfortunately for Monsters’ fans hoping for a long stay, Korpisalo and Milano are now back in Columbus. Carlsson was originally recalled, but he was then sent back a few hours later with Kivlenieks.
The Monsters, now with a record of 7-4-2-1, will likely receive another player from the NHL club this week, as the Jackets have activated former Monster Lukas Sedlak. Jordan Schroeder is the likely candidate, as he has been centering the fourth line recently.
To cap off the three-game series, the Monsters will play the Milwaukee Admirals again on Wednesday. However, this game will be played in Milwaukee. The Monsters will return home to face the Texas Stars in a two-game homestand Friday and Saturday.